The primary endpoint was therapeutic failure at one year, defined as CDAI score ≥200 and an increase of ≥60 points from baseline, or study drug discontinuation due to lack of efficacy or intolerable adverse drug reaction. [ Time Frame: 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Diagnosis of Crohn's disease confirmed by endoscopic and histological, or endoscopic and radiological criteria within one year or by histopathological criteria during resection,

Clinical remission defined as Crohn´s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) < 200, within the last two weeks. No clinical relapse due to Crohn's disease since resection,

Moderate (i2a) or severe endoscopic recurrence (i3-i4) within 6 to 24 months after curative resection of the terminal ileum and partial colectomy with ileocolonic resection for complications of ileal Crohn´s disease and with a construction of an ileocolonic anastomosis,

Within the neoterminal ileum at least more than 5 aphthous lesions with normal mucosa between the lesions, or skip areas of larger lesions,

Serious secondary illnesses of an acute or chronic nature, which in the opinion of the Investigator renders the patient unsuitable for inclusion into the study,

Serum creatinine levels exceeding 1.5 mg/dL or 130 umol/L,

Presence of an ileo-/colonic stoma,

Genotype: thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) -/-,

Known previous or concurrent malignancy (other than that considered surgically cured, with no evidence for recurrence for 5 years),

Treatment with cytostatics or immunosuppressants, methotrexate, cyclosporine, 6-MP, Azathioprine, 6-TG or anti-TFN-alpha therapy since resection; postoperative treatment with corticosteroids for more than 4 weeks or postoperative treatment with oral antibiotics (e.g., metronidazole, ciprofloxacin) for more than 4 weeks,

Known intolerance/hypersensitivity to study drugs or drugs of similar chemical structure or pharmacological profile,

Scheduled or intended active immunisation with living vaccines within the next 12 months,

Well-founded doubt about the patient's cooperation,

Existing pregnancy, lactation, or intended pregnancy or impregnation within the next 15 months,

Non-use of appropriate contraceptives in males with procreative capacity and females of childbearing potential (e.g. condoms for males, intrauterine device [IUD], hormonal contraception for females, or a means of contraception for a particular patient considered adequate by the responsible investigator) during treatment and within 3 months after the end of treatment,

Participation in another clinical trial within the last 30 days, simultaneous participation in another clinical trial, or previous participation in this trial,

Present stricture plasty (no exclusion if the present stricture plasty was macroscopically without any relevant finding of inflammation seen during index surgery.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00946946